How to build Gatsby Mansion in Minecraft

West Egg, summer of 1922. A symmetrical limestone mansion with two four-storey pavilions under steep green copper roofs, a mansard between them and a tall central belvedere tower that glows at night. A columned portico with a balcony opens onto a huge marble terrace with lantern-topped balustrades and a sweeping staircase down to the lawn, where strings of party lights hang over a three-tier fountain and hedge parterres. Inside, a double-height ballroom with a black-and-white marble floor, a gilded gallery, three chandeliers, a band stand and a champagne tower, plus a library, a bar and Gatsby's bedroom heaped with shirts. At the bottom of the lawn a long dock runs out into the bay to the famous green light, and a yellow roadster waits in the motor court.

• DifficultyExpert
• Size69 × 87, 60 layers tall
• Blocks17,530
• Build time12+ hours
• CategoryHouses

Open the interactive 3D plan above to build it one layer at a time: every layer has a numbered top-down plan, a block list and full-screen step-by-step instructions you can tick off as you go. You can also download it for Litematica, WorldEdit or Minecraft Bedrock, or view it in your room in AR.

Materials list

Building tips

1. Peg out the plan first: the centre block is 31 x 15, each pavilion is 11 x 20 and shares its inner wall with the centre, and the terrace runs 55 blocks along the whole front. Everything else lines up with those corners.
2. Raise the house and terrace three blocks above the lawn. The height difference is what makes the grand staircase and the balustrade feel important, and it hides the foundations.
3. Copper roofs: there are no prismarine stairs, so build the steep pavilion roofs from dark prismarine blocks stepping in one block every two layers. On a roof this steep, full blocks read as a crisp French slope.
4. Party lights: put a tall dark oak fence post with a lantern on top at each corner of the lawn grid, then hang lanterns every second block between posts, one block lower in the middle of each span so the strings sag.
5. For the green light, wrap a sea lantern in lime stained glass on top of a pole at the very end of the dock. It is the last thing you see from the tower at night.
6. Do the ballroom floor as a checkerboard before you put up the walls; it is much easier to lay 400 blocks of marble without walls in the way.
7. Chandeliers: an iron bar chain, a gold block, glowstone underneath and a ring of end rods standing up like candles. Hang three in a row down the ballroom.

Step-by-step: all 60 layers

1. Layer 1 Spruce Log ×10
2. Layer 2 Grass Block ×2513, Water ×1163, Gravel ×604, Smooth Stone ×169, Sand ×138, Quartz Stairs ×24, Spruce Log ×10, Sea Lantern ×8, Quartz Bricks ×2
3. Layer 3 Spruce Leaves ×458, Cut Sandstone ×204, Water ×136, Stone Bricks ×66, Cornflower ×64, Dandelion ×64, Poppy ×64, Spruce Planks ×63, Quartz Bricks ×42, Quartz Stairs ×22, Yellow Concrete ×21, Smooth Quartz Block ×20, Oak Leaves ×16, Polished Blackstone ×16, Dark Oak Planks ×12, Spruce Log ×10, Dark Oak Fence ×8, Oak Log ×8, Black Concrete ×4, Birch Fence ×2, Dark Oak Stairs ×2, Glowstone ×2, Chiseled Quartz Block ×1, Quartz Pillar ×1
4. Layer 4 Cut Sandstone ×204, Spruce Leaves ×90, Stone Brick Slab ×66, Dark Oak Fence ×25, Quartz Stairs ×20, Oak Leaves ×16, Spruce Log ×10, Yellow Concrete ×10, Oak Log ×8, White Concrete ×8, Chest ×3, Glass Pane ×3, Lantern ×3, Birch Fence ×2, Quartz Bricks ×2, Brown Wool ×1, Quartz Pillar ×1
5. Layer 5 Dark Oak Planks ×440, Smooth Quartz Block ×388, Quartz Bricks ×243, Polished Blackstone ×238, Quartz Block ×238, Spruce Leaves ×90, Block of Gold ×40, Dark Oak Fence ×25, White Concrete ×18, Black Concrete ×17, Oak Log ×8, Glass Pane ×4, Birch Fence ×2, Quartz Pillar ×1
6. Layer 6 Smooth Sandstone ×152, Sandstone Stairs ×66, Red Carpet ×61, Dark Oak Planks ×49, Birch Fence ×44, Dark Oak Slab ×31, Bookshelf ×30, Cut Sandstone ×28, Quartz Bricks ×28, Chiseled Quartz Block ×27, Smooth Quartz Block ×25, Green Carpet ×22, Dark Oak Fence ×21, Block of Gold ×19, Dark Oak Stairs ×19, Lantern ×16, Oak Log ×8, White Carpet ×8, Dark Oak Door ×6, Red Wool ×4, Quartz Stairs ×1
7. Layer 7 Oak Leaves ×173, Glass Pane ×78, Smooth Sandstone ×74, Lantern ×73, Bookshelf ×30, Quartz Pillar ×21, Block of Gold ×19, Dark Oak Fence ×13, Water ×12, White Carpet ×12, Cut Sandstone ×8, Oak Log ×8, Black Concrete ×7, Quartz Stairs ×7, Chiseled Quartz Block ×4, Poppy ×4, Smooth Quartz Block ×4, Iron Bars ×3, Jungle Log ×2, White Stained Glass ×2, White Wool ×1
8. Layer 8 Oak Leaves ×173, Glass Pane ×81, Smooth Sandstone ×77, Bookshelf ×30, Lantern ×22, Quartz Pillar ×21, Block of Gold ×19, Dark Oak Fence ×12, Green Concrete ×9, Oak Log ×8, Quartz Bricks ×8, Oak Slab ×3, Smooth Quartz Block ×3, Chiseled Quartz Block ×2, Jungle Log ×2, Yellow Stained Glass ×2, Black Concrete ×1, Quartz Stairs ×1, Red Carpet ×1
9. Layer 9 Glass Pane ×81, Smooth Sandstone ×77, Oak Leaves ×52, Bookshelf ×30, Quartz Pillar ×21, Green Wool ×20, White Wool ×16, Jungle Leaves ×10, Cut Sandstone ×8, Dark Oak Fence ×8, Lime Stained Glass ×8, Chiseled Quartz Block ×2, Smooth Quartz Block ×2, White Stained Glass ×2, Quartz Stairs ×1, Sea Lantern ×1
10. Layer 10 Smooth Sandstone ×83, Glass Pane ×81, Oak Leaves ×54, Quartz Pillar ×20, Lantern ×8, Quartz Bricks ×8, End Rod ×6, Lime Stained Glass ×5, Water ×4, Chiseled Quartz Block ×2, Block of Gold ×1, Quartz Stairs ×1, Smooth Quartz Block ×1
11. Layer 11 Smooth Sandstone ×111, Quartz Stairs ×62, Glass Pane ×50, Quartz Pillar ×20, Chiseled Quartz Block ×18, Cut Sandstone ×8, Lantern ×4, Block of Gold ×1, Green Concrete ×1, Water ×1
12. Layer 12 Dark Oak Planks ×448, Cut Sandstone ×130, Glass Pane ×36, Quartz Pillar ×20, Quartz Stairs ×14, Quartz Bricks ×8
13. Layer 13 White Carpet ×139, Smooth Sandstone ×126, Light Blue Carpet ×70, Sandstone Stairs ×42, Glass Pane ×36, Iron Bars ×30, Quartz Pillar ×20, Block of Gold ×15, Cut Sandstone ×8, Dark Oak Planks ×4, Light Blue Wool ×2, Pink Wool ×2, Red Bed ×2, White Bed ×2, Chest ×1, Cyan Carpet ×1, Cyan Wool ×1, Lime Carpet ×1, Lime Wool ×1, Magenta Carpet ×1, Magenta Wool ×1, Orange Carpet ×1, Orange Wool ×1, White Wool ×1, Yellow Wool ×1
14. Layer 14 Glass Pane ×81, Smooth Sandstone ×81, Quartz Pillar ×16, Quartz Bricks ×8, Chiseled Quartz Block ×4, Dark Oak Planks ×4, Lantern ×4, White Wool ×2, Yellow Wool ×2, Light Blue Wool ×1, Pink Wool ×1
15. Layer 15 Smooth Quartz Block ×90, Glass Pane ×81, Smooth Sandstone ×81, Yellow Stained Glass ×24, Quartz Stairs ×15, Quartz Pillar ×14, Block of Gold ×12, Cut Sandstone ×8, Dark Oak Planks ×4, Glowstone ×3, Lime Wool ×1, Magenta Wool ×1, Orange Wool ×1
16. Layer 16 Smooth Sandstone ×109, Glass Pane ×57, End Rod ×24, Quartz Stairs ×22, Birch Fence ×18, Quartz Pillar ×16, Quartz Bricks ×15, Chiseled Quartz Block ×12, Block of Gold ×3, Cyan Wool ×1
17. Layer 17 Smooth Sandstone ×163, Quartz Stairs ×54, Quartz Pillar ×16, Cut Sandstone ×8, Lantern ×8, Glass Pane ×3, Iron Bars ×3
18. Layer 18 Dark Oak Planks ×100, Smooth Sandstone ×88, Cut Sandstone ×78, Chiseled Quartz Block ×12, Quartz Bricks ×8, Quartz Pillar ×4, Iron Bars ×3
19. Layer 19 Smooth Sandstone ×485, Quartz Bricks ×58, Quartz Stairs ×50, Sandstone Stairs ×50, Cut Sandstone ×8, Quartz Pillar ×4
20. Layer 20 Smooth Sandstone ×115, Dark Prismarine ×50, Glass Pane ×50, Quartz Bricks ×24, Quartz Pillar ×4
21. Layer 21 Smooth Sandstone ×94, Dark Prismarine ×50, Glass Pane ×50, Quartz Bricks ×16, Cut Sandstone ×12, Quartz Pillar ×4
22. Layer 22 Smooth Sandstone ×94, Dark Prismarine ×55, Glass Pane ×42, Quartz Stairs ×24, Quartz Bricks ×12, Sandstone Stairs ×12, Quartz Pillar ×4
23. Layer 23 Smooth Sandstone ×124, Dark Prismarine ×58, Quartz Stairs ×42, Cut Sandstone ×12, Glass Pane ×12, Lantern ×4, Quartz Pillar ×4
24. Layer 24 Dark Prismarine ×287, Smooth Sandstone ×124, Glass Pane ×12, Quartz Bricks ×12, Chiseled Quartz Block ×4
25. Layer 25 Quartz Stairs ×130, Quartz Bricks ×124, Smooth Sandstone ×16, Iron Bars ×15, Glass Pane ×12, Cut Sandstone ×4
26. Layer 26 Dark Prismarine ×116, Smooth Sandstone ×16, Glass Pane ×12, Quartz Bricks ×12
27. Layer 27 Dark Prismarine ×116, Smooth Sandstone ×24, Quartz Bricks ×8, Quartz Stairs ×8, Chiseled Quartz Block ×4, Cut Sandstone ×4, Glass Pane ×4
28. Layer 28 Dark Prismarine ×92, Smooth Sandstone ×28, Quartz Bricks ×12, Quartz Stairs ×4
29. Layer 29 Dark Prismarine ×92, Cut Sandstone ×32, Quartz Bricks ×8, Quartz Stairs ×4
30. Layer 30 Dark Prismarine ×72, Smooth Sandstone ×44, Quartz Bricks ×12, Glass Pane ×4, Glowstone ×4, White Concrete ×3, Block of Gold ×2
31. Layer 31 Dark Prismarine ×72, Smooth Sandstone ×48, Quartz Bricks ×8, White Concrete ×5, Cut Sandstone ×4, Glass Pane ×4
32. Layer 32 Dark Prismarine ×68, Smooth Sandstone ×52, Quartz Bricks ×12, White Concrete ×3, Black Concrete ×2
33. Layer 33 Dark Prismarine ×68, Smooth Sandstone ×28, Quartz Bricks ×8, Quartz Stairs ×8, Chiseled Quartz Block ×4, Cut Sandstone ×4, White Concrete ×4, Black Concrete ×1
34. Layer 34 Dark Prismarine ×52, Smooth Sandstone ×28, Chiseled Quartz Block ×8, Quartz Bricks ×4, Quartz Slab ×4, White Concrete ×3, Block of Gold ×2
35. Layer 35 Dark Prismarine ×52, Smooth Sandstone ×28, Cut Sandstone ×4
36. Layer 36 Smooth Sandstone ×28, Dark Prismarine ×20, Quartz Bricks ×4
37. Layer 37 Smooth Sandstone ×28, Dark Prismarine ×20, Cut Sandstone ×4
38. Layer 38 Smooth Quartz Block ×81, Quartz Stairs ×40, Iron Bars ×16, Block of Gold ×4
39. Layer 39 Quartz Pillar ×12, Block of Gold ×9, End Rod ×4
40. Layer 40 Quartz Pillar ×12, Glowstone ×9
41. Layer 41 Quartz Pillar ×12, Glowstone ×9
42. Layer 42 Quartz Pillar ×12
43. Layer 43 Smooth Quartz Block ×81, Quartz Stairs ×40
44. Layer 44 Dark Prismarine ×24
45. Layer 45 Dark Prismarine ×24
46. Layer 46 Dark Prismarine ×16
47. Layer 47 Dark Prismarine ×16
48. Layer 48 Dark Prismarine ×8
49. Layer 49 Dark Prismarine ×8
50. Layer 50 Dark Prismarine ×1
51. Layer 51 Dark Prismarine ×1
52. Layer 52 Block of Gold ×1
53. Layer 53 Block of Gold ×1
54. Layer 54 Block of Gold ×1
55. Layer 55 Iron Bars ×1
56. Layer 56 Iron Bars ×1
57. Layer 57 Iron Bars ×1
58. Layer 58 White Wool ×3, Iron Bars ×1
59. Layer 59 Blue Wool ×3, Iron Bars ×1
60. Layer 60 End Rod ×1

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